Conditions in Utah eBook

In all this social system each apostle has his great
part. He is inseparable from it. He wields
now, as does a minister at court, such part of the
power as the monarch may permit him to enjoy, and it
is his hope and expectation that he will outlive those
who are his seniors in rank in order that he may become
the ruler.

Therefore, if there be evil in this social relation
as I have portrayed it, every apostle is responsible
for a part of that evil. They enjoy the honors
of the social class; they help to exert the tyranny
over the subjugated mass. Those of you who do
me the honor to follow my remarks will realize how
close is the relation between the apostles and the
president, and that the apostle is a responsible part
of the governing power. While I may speak of
the president of the church segregated from his associates
and as the monarch, it must be understood constantly
that he maintains his power by the support of the
apostles, who keep the mass in order and in subjugation
to his will, expressed through them.

THE BUSINESS MONOPOLY.

Whatever may have been its origin or excuse, the business
power of the president of the church and of the select
class which he admits into business relations with
him is now a practical monopoly, or is rapidly becoming
a monopoly, of everything that he touches. I want
to call your attention to the extraordinary list of
worldly concerns in which this spiritual leader holds
official position. The situation is more amazing
when you are advised that this man came to his presidency
purely by accident, namely, the death of his seniors
in rank; that he had never known any business ability,
and that he comes to the presidency and the directorship
of the various corporations solely because he is president
of the church. He is already reputed to be a wealthy
man, and his statement would seem to indicate that
he has large holdings in the various corporations
with which he is associated, although previous to
his accession to the presidency of the church he made
a kind of proud boast among his people of his poverty.

He conducts railways, street-car lines, power and
light companies, coal mines, salt works, sugar factories,
shoe factories, mercantile houses, drug stores, newspapers,
magazines, theaters, and almost every conceivable
kind of business, and in all of these, inasmuch as
he is the dominant factor by virtue of his being the
prophet of God, he asserts indisputable sway.
It is considered an evidence of deference to him, and
good standing in the church, for his hundreds of thousands
of followers to patronize exclusively the institutions
which he controls.